The game they play online in heaven

The Stock Market Rd 12

Sorry for the delay this week fellow egg chasers!! Bloody jobs and life seem to have got in the way. TGIF though – it’s time for some rugby. Cancel your Saturday evening plans, Hurricanes vs Crusaders could be the game of the season! Here is our breakdown of the stockmarket for rd 12 just in time for solidifying your fantasy picks this week. If you didn’t get a chance, also check out the Casualty Ward and Round 11 Review to help make your summary judgement for rd 13.

Blue Chips:

Sean McMahon (REB) – Last year’s Australian Super Rugby Player of the year and one of the most in form backrowers in the competition. The terminator returns to super rugby from the bench this week and the only question is how well he will return from injury in a team that asks an awful lot from him every week. He will be keen to get back out on the field and impress Michael Cheika for that Wallabies Jersey. Without question, pick up this man if you can though.

Charlie Ngatai (CHI) – Charlie played 2 full games of club rugby before returning to the starting Chiefs side and did so without skipping a beat. He picked up right where he left off last year as one of the form centres in Super Rugby. Charlie will be be eager to firstly, just be back out there and secondly, to impress the All Black selectors like last year. He definetely started off on the right foot last week and will be looking to build from here.

Patrick Tuipulotu (BLU) – The big blues enforcer is back following a back injury niggle and will be looking to make an impact from the whistle and force his way into the All Blacks Squad. Tuipulotu has been one of the most devestating ball runners for the Blues in the past couple of years and has been a consistent performer in a not so consistent forward pack.

Martin Landajo (JAG) – The best fantasy scrumhalf in 2016, Landajo is more than just a leader to the Jagaures side, he literally carries the team on his shoulders as he marshalls his troops and dictates the battle plan from behind the big men. Landajo returned from the bench last week and still got a score of 27, playing around 20 minutes.

Smokies – Buy Low Sell High

The entire Jaguares team – they have a great run home and are playing a Western Force team this weekend that appears to be resting a number of players for their ‘must win game.’ Seriously though, the Jaguares have a number of home games and what we would describe as some easier fixtures to get them through to the end of the season. The only issue is that you never know who is going to be playing!! The team rotates players consistently and boy is that frustrating for us Fantasy coaches. Our value picks – Tomas Lavanini and Manuel Montero both return off the bench this week and should, (note we say ‘should’ and not ‘will’) be into the starting team for the coming weeks.

Rising Stocks

Kobus van Wyk (SHA) – Kobus returned from injury last week for the Sharks against the Western Force in Durban. Coming from the Stormers last year, Van Wyk has been a revalation for the Sharks and has been incredibly powerful and elsusive, seemingly breaking defensive lines at will throughout the year. He has also stepped up in the big matches, with a 72 point, 1 try effort agains the Lions in one of the better games of the year and likewise 46 against the Cheetahs and 44 against the Waratahs away from home. The Sharks have a good run home and despite having the bye in rd 16, Van Wyk should be good points to close out the season.

Sergeal Petersen (CHE) – Like Van Wyk, Petersen has just returned from injury and made an immediate impact for the Cheetahs last weekend in a game they definetly should have closed out. Petersen certainly isn’t in the best team, although I will say the Cheetahs have been exciting to watch but regardless the man just creates something out of nothing each week. He is as quick and agile as they come and is bloody everywhere, honestly watch him get around the paddock, he just wants to be part of the action and is not prepared to wait for the action to come to him. Petersen came out of last weeks encounter with a score of 64 and has an average of 39. He is a fantastic fantasy player and would be a great pickup.

Jeronimo De La Fuente (JAG) – After being rested last week, Jeronimo is back starting in the midfield and looking to continue his consistent form through to the rest of the season. With an average of 35 and some easier fixtures, many of which at home in Buenos Aires, Jeronimo should be a reliable centre to see the season out, an exception to rule in an otherwise ever changing Jaguares outfit.

Hold – watch this space

Israel Dagg (CRU) – Izzy will be taking to club rugby this weekend and will be aiming to return for the crusaders in rd 13. If you’ve held the elusive fullback this far, its not long to go now. He will be coming back into a currently undefeated crusaders team, (this may change against the Hurricanes on the weekend but who knows?) and capping off an already tremendously talented backline. Last week we mentioned Ben Smith will be back in rd 13 and both these sensational players will be trying to stake their claim on an ABs jersey. Expect some great footy out of these two.

Falling Stocks

Lodewyk De Ager (BUL) – The big man has been threatening to perform all year but so far has only had one standout performance with 47 against the Jaguares. He moved to Pretoria looking for a better team to ply his trade and grow his game and unforunately the Bulls have been woeful most of the year. Whilst his old mates at the Cheetahs are still below the Bulls on the table, they have been looking a much better side and I can only imagine how much better they would be with De Ager in the fray, particularly at the lineout. Despite Bulls coach, Nollis Marais saying that enough was enough and he would play his best team each week, he has continued with his rotation policy and that sees De Ager moved to the bench again this week.

Dilyn Leyds (STO) – Apart from giving us one of the filthiest flick passes in rugby history (seriously can’t watch it enough), Leyds has been outstanding on the left wing for the stormers. He has pace to burn, a wicked step and great game awareness. The stormers do have a great run home as far as fixtures go however we reckon with big Bob Du Preez and JP Du Plessiss out injured that they will move Leyds into the pivot position at flyhalf, which he played all through highschool and SA U20s. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve watched his high school highlights and he was a sensational 10 as well however I just don’t see him getting the same kind of points at 10 as he would on the wing.